Pryor's 'Obamacare' ad highlights his cancer fight LITTLE ROCK (AP) — U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor reached into his own medical history Tuesday to explain his vote on the nation's new health care law, telling Arkansans his battle with a rare cancer 18 years ago influenced him. The two-term Democrat, who is in a tough re-election battle, fought a clear-cell sarcoma discovered after a pickup basketball game. He had five weeks of chemotherapy and a 13-hour surgery that his campaign called experimental. "...

ASU student injured at fraternity house JONESBORO (AP) — Police at Arkansas State University say an 18-year-old student was badly hurt by a flying piece of a broken golf club at a fraternity house. Authorities say a female student was taken to a Memphis hospital after she was impaled by broken golf club on Tuesday night. The student's condition has not been released. University police say a 19-year-old man threw a football to another man, who was using a golf club as a bat. The golf...

Arkansas to survey bears in 2 zonesLITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is planning to survey bears in two zones that cover much of southern Arkansas. The survey will be in bear zones 3 and 4 that include all of Grant, Cleveland, Dallas, Nevada, Ouachita, Calhoun, Bradley, Drew, Ashley, Union, Columbia, Lafayette, Hempstead, Little River and Miller counties. The zones also include parts of Pulaski, Saline, Hot Spring, Clark, Pike, Howard, Sevier, Jefferson, ...

NTSB: Crash wiped out signal that could hold clues LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A federal investigator said Tuesday that a signal that would have given a final instruction to the crew of a railroad train involved in a fatal head-on collision was damaged in the accident but could still hold clues as to what happened. Crews are hopeful they can recover data from the signal, which was alongside a Union Pacific track near Hoxie in northeastern Arkansas. Two railroad workers died in the accident Sunday morni...

GOP chairman says Arkansas key in US Senate fight LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus touted Arkansas' role Tuesday in the party's fight to take control of the U.S. Senate, as he kicked off a series of visits to the state by national GOP figures over the next week. Appearing with Republican Senate nominee and U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, Priebus criticized two-term Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor as too closely aligned with national Democratic figures. The GOP needs a...

North Little Rock woman guilty of wire fraud LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A federal prosecutor says a North Little Rock woman faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud. U.S. Attorney Chris Thyer said Tuesday Regina Paff, 53, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud related to a scheme to defraud her former employer — AGL Corporation in Jacksonville — of nearly $1 million. Prosecutors say Paff handled payroll for the company and created a scheme in which she provided herse...

Attorney blasts fatal police shooting at Wal-Mart CINCINNATI (AP) — An attorney for the family of a man fatally shot by police at a Wal-Mart store said Tuesday that surveillance video of the shooting shows it was unjustified, and the state's top lawman said a special grand jury will begin considering whether charges are appropriate against the officers. Attorney Michael Wright, who represents the family of 21-year-old John Crawford III, said in a statement that surveillance video of the shoot...

Washington County jail inmate dies FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — Authorities say a 20-year-old inmate has died at the Washington County jail. The Washington County Sheriff's Department says officials found the inmate hanging in his cell from his top bunk on Monday morning in the Washington County jail. The inmate shared a jail cell with two other inmates, who were both asleep and didn't notice that anything had occurred. Authorities called paramedics, but efforts to revive the inmate wer...

Texarkana hotel group to pay $915K TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — A settlement has been reached between a Texarkana hotel owner and the contractors who built the city's new convention center and hotel. The Texarkana Gazette reported the settlement was for $915,000. EBCO General Contractor's vice president had filed a lawsuit in November against the owner of Texarkana Hotels LLC. The company wanted payment for its work on the Arkansas Convention Center in Texarkana. The lawsuit also inc...

Martin pays back $2,100 for homestead tax credits LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin has paid $2,100 to Benton County for improperly receiving tax credits on two homes over the past three years, and indicated he planned to make more payments for claiming both houses as his primary residence. Benton County officials said Martin repaid $1,050 in homestead credits he received during the 2011-2013 tax years for his Rogers home, and another $1,050 in penalties. Online tax r...

Monday update for Arkansas freight train collision in HoxieTwo Union Pacific train crew members were killed and two others were injured when two freight trains collided head-on in northeast Arkansas early Sunday, Arkansas State Police said. The collision happened about 3 a.m. in Hoxie, a small town about 90 miles northwest of Memphis, Tennessee. A resulting fire took about seven hours to extinguish, according to Union Pacific spokesman Brandon Morris. Authorities asked about 500 people within 1½ miles...

2 dead, 2 hurt in Arkansas freight train collision HOXIE, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas State Police say two people have died and two are injured after two Union Pacific freight trains collided in northeast Arkansas. Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said in a news release that authorities were called to the collision about 3 a.m. Sunday near Hoxie. Sadler said railroad officials told police both trains were carrying toxic chemical cargo. A large number of Hoxie residents have been evacuated....

Governors tout benefits of Medicaid expansion LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Three governors who expanded Medicaid under the federal health care overhaul said Saturday there are economic and moral arguments for embracing a key part of the law, despite strong political opposition in their southern states. The Democratic governors of Arkansas, Kentucky and Maryland touted the success their states have seen in cutting the number of uninsured residents during a panel discussion at the Southern Governors'...

Paralyzed donkey learns to walk again HOT SPRINGS (AP) — A donkey in Hot Springs is learning to walk again after months of treatment with a piece of equipment that sends pulses throughout the body. The Hot Springs Sentinel-Record reported Stormy, 3, developed paralysis in his hind legs earlier this year. Equine therapist Tricia Brophy used an electro acuscope for microcurrent therapy to help Stormy. The acuscope sends pulses at the same frequency the body produces to stimulate and...

Health agencies monitor for Ebola virus FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — Arkansas health agencies are monitoring the state for any possible cases of the deadly Ebola virus, though there's no indication anyone in the state has the disease. The Pat Walker Health Center at the University of Arkansas, the state Health Department and other providers are working to identify people who have traveled from west Africa, where the disease is spreading. The agencies want to know about anyone who has travele...

Minnesota activists join Arkansas hog farm fight ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Twin Cities environmentalists have joined a campaign asking a food processing company to relocate its Arkansas hog farm. Nearly 850 Minnesota residents have sent letters to Cargill expressing concern about the Mount Judea facility's proximity to the Buffalo River, Minnesota Public Radio News reported. The farm is located on a tributary six miles away from the river. Jack Stewart, vice president of the Buffalo River Water...

House speaker says farmers' take illegal losses LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The speaker of the Arkansas House says he wants a legislative committee to look at regulations governing commodities brokers after state farmers reported millions of dollars in losses. House Speaker Davy Carter on Friday asked the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee to look into whether the state can require commodities brokers to be bonded or otherwise insured to protect their clients from losing money due to illega...

Group submits petitions to expand alcohol sales LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A group pushing for expanded alcohol sales in Arkansas submitted additional petitions Friday in an effort to put its proposal on the November ballot. Let Arkansas Decide turned in 41,492 signatures Friday to the secretary of state's office. The group had been given until Aug. 18 to submit additional petitions after it fell 17,133 signatures from registered voters shy of the 78,133 needed to put the proposed constitutional am...

Ross raises $306K, prepares $1.1M ad blitz LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Democratic nominee Mike Ross reported spending more than $1.1 million last month to air television ads this fall touting his bid for Arkansas governor, as he outpaced Republican rival Asa Hutchinson in fundraising. Ross reported raising $306,660 in July, compared to $275,995 Hutchinson reported raising during the same month. The two ex-congressmen are running to succeed Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe, who is barred by term limit...

Clinton urges Southern states to seek cooperation LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton urged Southern governors to seek cooperation as they try to expand research and development in the region, praising Kentucky and Arkansas for their success cutting the number of uninsured. Speaking to the Southern Governors' Association at the group's annual meeting in Little Rock, the former Arkansas governor said that states that find ways to network and cooperate will have the most success. T...